Webinar
Implementing a strong
vision - a practical
guide for middle
leaders
Edward Gildea
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What is the point of
having a‘Vision’?
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To focus thought before action or
decision-making
To provide challenge, aspiration and
inspiration
To provide a context which unifies
varied activities
To test decisions, options and
priorities
To provide something for people to
follow…
Clear vision is:
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experienced in action
valid through future challenges
appreciated and sensed by all members of the team
or school community
open to new ideas and developments
celebrated when it is successfully manifested
visible to outsiders.
Principles of Management
Relate your vision to the whole school
vision
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What are the key words and phrases of your
whole school vision? eg: holistic, inspire,
curiosity, enjoy, citizens, fulfill their potential,
experiential, learning…
How do each of these words relate to your
subject area?
Do any of the words pose particular challenges?
Are there any words or phrases you want to add
or subtract? If so, why?
Vision check
• What are the implications for the key
words of your vision in terms of:
a) The teaching culture of your
department and
b) The style of leadership and team
working you have adopted?
c) Their suitability to the allocation of
SMART targets?
Implications for Teachers
of the word ‘Learning’
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Leaders focused on learning
Modelling curiosity
Monitoring and analysing
Talking about learning
Encouraging experimentation and action research
Challenging and supporting
Mentoring and coaching
Open Classrooms
Getting ‘buy in’ to your vision
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Openly debate and discuss each of the key words
and concepts
Use a facilitating style to engage and involve all
members of the department in teasing out the
concepts
Discuss areas of difficulty and disagreement
Use sticky dot voting to prioritise and obtain
consensus
Facilitation Framework
Effective facilitators balance focus along three dimensions
Outcomes/Goals
Process/How
Dynamics/People
How to embed the vision
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Embed the key words in the criteria for lesson
observations and learning walks
Experiment with ways of monitoring how well
you are delivering the vision eg: pupils feedback
and self evaluation systems
Ensure the key words feature in Performance
Management and Self Assessment pro formas
Built it into your expectations.
Motivation of Staff
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Ownership is generated by Creativity
Give scope for colleagues to be creative in
formulating, exploring and experimenting
Recognise, praise and affirm when the vision is
realised
Question, challenge and hold accountable where
it is not
Be self actualised through the vision
Questions & Answers
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Relevant conferences for middle leaders
20th November, London
Effective Middle Leaders: Lead your
team to Outstanding (secondary)
www.oeconferences.com/middlelea
ders
25th November, London
Primary Middle Leadership: Lead, Raise
and Monitor the Quality of Teaching across
your Subject Area
www.oeconferences.com/primML